Where to ride in/around Laguna Beach?

[joel roth]

I'm traveling to Laguna Beach, CA in early June. I'll have one Friday
afternoon free to ride for about 5 hours. Where do you recommend? Road
or mountain, doesn't matter.

Also, any recommendations for a place to rent a bike?

Thanks.

joel

[Matt O'Toole]

joel roth wrote:

> I'm traveling to Laguna Beach, CA in early June. I'll have one Friday
> afternoon free to ride for about 5 hours. Where do you recommend? Road
> or mountain, doesn't matter.

Laguna Beach is a mountain bike mecca! There are basically two riding areas --
El Moro Cyn. at Crystal Cove State Park, and Aliso-Wood Canyons Park.

El Moro is just north of Laguna Beach on Pacific Coast Hwy (PCH). It's the
larger of the two areas, with both fire roads and singletrack, something for all
abilities. The park itself is beautiful, as are the views of the ocean. Of the
two areas, I recommend this one.

Aliso-Wood is reached by going to the top of Park Avenue (big hill) and turning
right on Alta Vista, which dead ends in a cul-de-sac and parking lot at the
trialhead. The main feature of this park is steep, technical singletrack, into
the park itself, and dropping down to Laguna Cyn. Rd. It's enormously fun but
lacks the variety and size of El Moro. It's less beautiful now that houses have
been built all around it. It's also more crowded with walkers, etc. The
cul-de-sac is an excellent and popular place to watch the sunset though.

> Also, any recommendations for a place to rent a bike?

Rainbow Bicycle Co., on PCH in North Laguna has always had nice bikes for
rent -- top notch full suspension demos, etc:

www.teamrain.com

They're a great place for trail info as well, and just a mile or two from El
Moro. You could rent a bike at Rainbow, leave your car there, and ride to El
Moro, saving the $6 parking fee and getting a good warmup before the climbing
starts.

I could never get turned on to road riding in Orange County. The mountain
biking is so much better.

Matt O.

[joel roth]

Matt-
Thanks for the info!!

joel

Matt O'Toole wrote:

>joel roth wrote:
>
>
>
>>I'm traveling to Laguna Beach, CA in early June. I'll have one Friday
>>afternoon free to ride for about 5 hours. Where do you recommend? Road
>>or mountain, doesn't matter.
>>
>>
>
>Laguna Beach is a mountain bike mecca! There are basically two riding areas --
>El Moro Cyn. at Crystal Cove State Park, and Aliso-Wood Canyons Park.
>
>El Moro is just north of Laguna Beach on Pacific Coast Hwy (PCH). It's the
>larger of the two areas, with both fire roads and singletrack, something for all
>abilities. The park itself is beautiful, as are the views of the ocean. Of the
>two areas, I recommend this one.
>
>Aliso-Wood is reached by going to the top of Park Avenue (big hill) and turning
>right on Alta Vista, which dead ends in a cul-de-sac and parking lot at the
>trialhead. The main feature of this park is steep, technical singletrack, into
>the park itself, and dropping down to Laguna Cyn. Rd. It's enormously fun but
>lacks the variety and size of El Moro. It's less beautiful now that houses have
>been built all around it. It's also more crowded with walkers, etc. The
>cul-de-sac is an excellent and popular place to watch the sunset though.
>
>
>
>>Also, any recommendations for a place to rent a bike?
>>
>>
>
>Rainbow Bicycle Co., on PCH in North Laguna has always had nice bikes for
>rent -- top notch full suspension demos, etc:
>
> www.teamrain.com
>
>They're a great place for trail info as well, and just a mile or two from El
>Moro. You could rent a bike at Rainbow, leave your car there, and ride to El
>Moro, saving the $6 parking fee and getting a good warmup before the climbing
>starts.
>
>I could never get turned on to road riding in Orange County. The mountain
>biking is so much better.
>
>Matt O.
>
>
>
>

[Neil Brooks]

joel roth > wrote:

>I'm traveling to Laguna Beach, CA in early June. I'll have one Friday
>afternoon free to ride for about 5 hours. Where do you recommend? Road
>or mountain, doesn't matter.

Pacific Coast Highway . . . with all the roadies. Whistle when you
pass by my Mom's house in South Laguna ;-)

Have a great trip!